Huskie Happenings - All You Need. All in One Place.Huskie Happenings Archive - April 27, 2009

NIUHuskies.com, the official online home for Northern Illinois Athletics, is pleased to announce the launch of a new blog, "Huskie Happenings." The section includes links to a daily newsstand, online chats, feature stories and interviews, game-day and multimedia information, promotions, calendars and much more. We hope this will become your first and last stop everyday for all the information you crave about Huskie Athletics.

TICKET DESIGN WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The winners of the NIU 2009 Football Season Ticket Design Contest were announced at Saturday's Spring Preview. There were three categories, based on age group: Kindergarten-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, and 6th-8th grade. Drumroll please...

Brooke Myroth, 2nd Grade

Bryce Bilyeu, 5th Grade

Kylie Ocker, 7th Grade

We had tons of entrants, and thank everyone for submitting them and voting! We're looking forward to having more contests for Huskie fans to participate in!

NIU wide receiver Britt Davis (Broadview, Ill.-Riverside-Brookfield) was picked up by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of the NFL Draft Sunday night. Davis hauled in 146 receptions, for a total of 1,675 yards, in his four-year career with the Huskies. In 2006, Davis started all 13 games, and recorded a career-high 731 receiving yards.

IN OTHER NEWS... THE SPRING PREVIEW

In all the hullabaloo surrounding Larry's selection, there was also the Northern Illinois Spring Football Preview. A large gathering of fans got together early in the day to enjoy some food at the 2009 Tailgate Showdown (see the video below). Huskie quarterbacks completed their first six passes in whipping winds, and you can check out a complete blog from the day here, and read the NIUHuskies.com wrap-up here. John Sahly of the Daily Chronicle wrote some thoughts in his blog, as well as this complete wrap. The practice was cut short for safety reasons after a vicious bolt of lightning that struck somewhere north of the stadium.

TAILGATE SHOWDOWN 2009

HOOPS RECOGNIZES SMITH, ANDERSON, DINUNNO AT SENIOR DINNER

The NIU men's basketball team held its annual "Senior Dinner" Sunday night at the Convocation Center. Players, coaches, staff and families all gathered to celebrate and remember the 2008-09 season. Senior Sean Smith was presented the "Huskie Award" for his two years of service to NIU; he is the first senior recruited by head coach Ricardo Patton. Patton also announced that Smith will return to the team next season in a student assistant coaching capacity.

Darion "Jake" Anderson (All-MAC Second-Team) and Mike DiNunno (MAC All-Freshman Team) were both recognized for receiving postseason honors from the Mid-American Conference. All 13 letterwinners were presented with their first-or second-year awards, and a highlight video followed (which can be seen on Huskie All-Access in the coming days).

Northern Illinois' 10 wins last season were a four-victory improvement from the 2007-08 campaign, and its five MAC wins were a two-victory improvement. The Huskies return 13 letterwinners from the 2008-09 squad next season, including 88 percent of their scoring, and 79 percent of their rebounding totals.

NIU also welcomes at least two newcomers to the mix, including Colorado transfer Xavier Silas, who averaged 12.0 points per game for the Buffaloes as a freshman (2006-07), and 9.7 points per contest as a sophomore (2007-08). Freshman Keith Smith, who redshirted last season, will also join the Huskies' backcourt.

GRUBISIC NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT AT MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Freshman Jurica Grubisic, playing No. 2 singles, recorded a 6-2, 6-2 win over Knot Likitkumchorn from Toledo in the Huskies' 4-2 setback versus second-seeded Toledo in the MAC Championship semifinals. For his efforts, Grubisic was named to the All-Tournament team. The All-MAC teams and specialty awards will be announced Tuesday by the league office -- we'll keep you posted on the NIU representation.